Caponizing tool



July 21, 1925. 1,546,933

v. D. LEsPlNAssE cAPoNIzING'TooL.

Filed Jan. 22. 1923 Patented July 21, 192.5.

VICTGR D. LESELNASSE, OF CHCAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAPONIZING TOCL.

.Application filed January 22, 1923. Serial No.`614,155.

To all fui/tom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Vieron Lnsrinassn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Caponizing Tools, of which the following' is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being' had to the accompanying` drawings,forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to caponizing tools of the character employed to seize and raise the testicle of a bird, and is designed as an improvement on the device disclosed in applicants prior Patent No. 1,451,398, issued April 10, 1923.

The object of the invention is to provide an instrument of this character', which may be easily placed in a position to seize the structures and tissues attaching the testicle to the birds body and not injure either the `large blood4 vessels lying immediately beneath the testicle or the testicle itself, and which may be manipulated to grasp the small blood vessels and tissues between the.

testicle and the birds body during` the raising operation in order to take the strain from off the testicle, thus insuring the removal of all the testicle and preventing1 the rupture thereof during the removing process.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of means whereby the substantially parallel portions forming` the slot at the working extremity of the device may be moved forcibly toward each other during the raising process. i

Anotherfeature resides in the limiting means associated with` the part forming the slot for normally limiting the distance these parts may be separated, by the spring action of the tweezer-lilre handle, but permitting said parts toghe further separated if desired for cleaningor other purposes.

A. still further feature resides in so arranging the limiting` means referred to above that it acts to normally close the outer end of the slot. thus preventing the escape from` the slot of the blood vessels and tissues attaching Jche testicle to the birds body.

y (lt-her features and advantages will appear `from time to time as the description of the invention progresses. l'

It is Vbelieved that the invention will be best understood by first describing the struc-V ture of the apparatus in connection with the accompanying drawings, and then describing the manner in which the instrument is int-ended to be employed.

Referring now to the drawings,

lfigure 1 is an edge view showing the instrument in substantially its actual size;

F igure 2 is a view taken at right angles to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View looking at the working end of the device and shows the parts enlarg-ed, and in separated position;

Figure i is a view similar to Figure 3, but shows the parts forming the slot in normal operative position;

Figure 5 is another view similar to Figure 1, but shows the members forming the slot forced together by pressure on the tweezerlilre handle.

Figure 6 shows a cross-section through the fingers forming the slot of a modified form of the device;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but illu strating.; another modification;

Figure 8 shows still another modification of the fingers;

Figures 9 and 10 show still other modifications and illustrate the manner of employing the instrument in operation; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing schematically a portion of the bird and the manner of employing the instrument.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts in the several views, 10 and 11 indicate the spring-like or flexible members which form the handle of the instrument. The parts 10 and 11 are rigidly secured together at one end in any desired manner, and diverge slightly from each other toward the opposite end. The set in the parts 10 and 11 is such as to tend to move the free ends thereof from each` other. The handle comprising the parts 10 and 11 may, if desired, be in all respects similar to that of the ordinary tweezers.

The part 10 at the lower end thereof, as seen in Figure 1, is provided with the outwardly and then inwardly curved portion 12, and the part 11 is provided with the similar outwardly and then inwardly curved portion 13. The parts 12 and 13 are opposed to each other, thus forming an eye or loop 111 therebetween, through which the testicle of the bird is passed in the manipulation of the instrument.

rllhe member 12 terminates in the laterally directed finger 15 and the member 13 in a ysimilar linger 16. When the device is in operative position, the lingers 15 and 1G are held slightly spaced apart shown in Figure d, and extend in substantially parallel relation, thus forming a slot 17 therebetween. The slot 17 will preferably, but not necessarily, taper' slightly from the open end thereof toward the free end or point of the device.

rlhe linger 1S is provided at its end with a` laterally and rearwardly extending portion 1S, which is adapted to overlie the beveled portion 19 at the end of the linger 15. The rebent or hook-like portion 1S acts to normally limit the separation of the lingers .15 and 16. rllhe part 1S also acts to close the end of the slot 17. lVhen, however, it is desired to separate the parts 15 and 16 for' cleaning or any other purpose, the parts 12 and 13 are moved slightly laterally with respect to each other, thus freeing the part 19 from the part 1S and pern'iitting the. lingers to assume the position indicated in Figure 3.

ln the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings, the parts 1 5 and 1li vextend laterally substantially at right angles to the plane of the parts 12 and 13. It is not necessary, however, that the lingers extend at right angles to the parts 12 and 13 and in certain cases other angular arrangements may be preferred. The lingers 15 and 16, as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, are preferably slightly oblong in cross-section. However, the cross-sections o-f these ,fingers may be v raried.

1n Figure 6, a modilied form of the lingers is shown. As shown in this ligure, the lingers 2O and 21 are provided with the cutting edges 22 and 23, which lie next to the birdfs body when the tool is applied, and which are adapted to be brought forcibly into engagement when pressure is applied to the sides of the handle member 10 and 11.

In Figure 7, a further modified form of the lingers is shown. In this construction` the fingers are substantially L-shaped in cross-section to insure a substantial space between the upper portions of the lingers when the tissues and small blood vessels attaching the testicle to the birds body are clamped between surfaces E24 and 25. This construction. largely eliminates the possibility of rupture of the testicle when the small bloodvessels and tissues are grasped by the abutting edges of the lingers, as the upwardly extending portions 2G of the lingers act to remove the testicle from the path of the abutting faces of the device.

In the form of device shown in Figure the lingers have in general the form as the modilication shown in Figure 7, but, in addition, are provided with cutting edges 9.7-9.7 similar to the edges 22 and E23 of the form shown in Figure 6.

In the inodilieation of Figure 9, the edge 31 slidably engages the inclined surface 132 when pressure is brought to bear on the sides of the handle, thus acting to sever the tissues and small blood vessels. At the same time the abutting surfaces 33 and 34 grasp the severed tissues and blood vessels and hold them securely until pressure on the sides of the handle is released.

The arrangement of Figure 10 is similar in operation to that of Figure 9, except that the edge 35 eo-operates with the shoulder 3G produce a more delinitel shearing action.

The method of employing the instrument will now be described. rlhe bird being bound and held with one side uppermost, an incision is made between the last two rear ribs. rThe edges of the out are. then spread and maintained in spread relation by means of the spreader indicated at Q8 in Figure 11. The underlying tissues are tuen perforated and access to the testicle 29 obtained in the usual manner. rlfhe testicle being now exposed, thel instrumentv is held lightly iny the hand as shown in Figure 1, and is placed in the ut with the loop portion preferably directed jfoward the head of the bird. The parts 15 and 1o being placed in contact with the birds body, the instrument is drawn gently toward the tail of the bird, causing the testiele to pass through the eye 14:. This operation should be performed very easily, and if any force appears to be necessary, the instrument should be shifted slightly and the slotted portion preferably pointed in a. slightly dili'erent direction. ln certain instances, it may be preferred to pass the instrument from the tail toward the head of the bird, but the process will be performed in exactly the same manner, regardless of from which direction the instrument is applied. However, the slot of the instrument should usually occupy a position from head to tail of, or from tail to head of the bird being operated upon.

After the testicle has passed through the eye 14, the instrument is moved still further forward, causing the blood vessels and tissues which attach the testicle to the bird to pass into the slot 17. The loop or hook 1S at the end of the linger 1G prevents such blood vessels and tissues from passing beyond the slot.

lt is now necessary to raise the testicle away from the birds body. 1f the instrument be drawn upwardly withoutbringing the lingers 15 and 1G together, the tcstiele will be brought forcibly into contact with the upper edges of the lingers 15 and 16 with the attendant danger o-f the testicle being ruptured and part thereof escaping, and not being removed. The present device is so designed that the blood vessels and tissue may be forcibly grasped between the parts 15 and 1li during the drawing or raising process, thus taking the strain from off the testicle and reducing to the minimum the danger of rupturing it.V During the drawing process, the parts and 11 of the handle are forced toward each other, thus causing the bloo-d vessels to be securelygripped between the fingers and 16. If desired, the instrument may be rotated during or after the drawing process, thus acting to twist the blood vessels into a cord in the customary manner, the blood vessels afterwards being severed `by means of a pair of' scissors.

In the formof the device sho-wn in Figure 6, when'pressure is brought to bear on the flexible members 10 and 11 of the handle7 the edges 22 and 23 are caused to firmly grip and crush the blood vessels W' ith this form 'of the device, the blood vessels and tissues attaching the testicle to the bird may often be severed directly'by the edges 22 and 23, thus making the use of scissors unnecessary.

In the devices shown in Figures 9 and 10,

movement of the` fingers toward each other serve successively to shear or sever the cord of tissues andblood vessels connecting the testicle vwith the birds body, and then Lfirmly to clamp and hold that portion of the cord adhering to the testicle.

` l/Vhile applicant has disclosed the preferred embodiment of his invention, it is to be understood that Y many modifications thereof are contemplated. For instance, the fingers forming the slot may extend at other angles rather than at right angles to the plane of the members 12 and 13. Also the handle or supporting portion of the device may lbe of scissors-lilreformation,` rather than tweezers-like. The fundamental requisite of the invention is the provision of a pair of supporting arms, the free ends of which may be moved slightly toward and from each other, and theprovision at the ends of' these arms of oppositely curved portions which terminate in substantially` parallelly extending ngers forming a slot therebetween. In view of the many modifications which may be made in applicants inventionA without departing from the spirit thereof, the invention should be limited merely by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters latent of the United States is.

1. In a caponizing instrument, a pair of members having adjacent ends which are arranged to be moved toward and away from each other, said ends being normally spaced slightly apart and provided with inwardly curved portions, substantially parallel separate fingers in which said curved portions respectively terminate, and means carried by said fingers for normally limiting thedistance which said fingers will separate, said means being arranged to normally close one end of the slot between Said fingers.

2. In a caponizing` instrument, a pair oi' members having adjacent ends which are spaced slight-ly apart, andcapableiof movement toward and from each other, said ends being `provided with outwardly andthen inwardly curved portions forming an eye therebe-tweein substantially parallel fingers in which said curved port-ions respectively terminate, said fingers normally affording a narrow elongated slot between them,` one of said fingers beingprovided Vat the end thereof with a rebent portion `adapted to engage the end ofl the other finger to close one end of said slot and limit the distance which said fingers will normally separate.

3. In a caponizing instrument, a pair or' flexible members secured togetheriat one end, the opposite or free ends of saidmembers being spaced slightly apart andiprovided with outwardly and then inwardly curved portions forming an `eye therebetween, separate substantially parallel fingers in which saidcurvedportions respectively terminate, and means carried by said fingers fornorfingers will separate. y

t. in a caponizing instrument, a pair of flexible members secured together at one end, the opposite or free ends thereof be- Ymally limiting the distance which said ring` spaced slightly apart and formed with outwardly' and then inwardly curved'portions, substantially parallel fingers in which said curved port-ions respectively terminate, said fingers normally affording a narrow elongated slot between them and a laterally extending portion at the free end of one of said fingers for normally closing one end of the slot between said fingers.

5. ln a caponizing instrument, a` pair of. fiexible members secured together at one end, the opposite or free ends of said meinbers being spaced slightly apart and provided with outwardly and then inwardly curved portions forming an eye therebetween, laterally extending substantially parallel fingers in which said curved portions respectively terminate, one of said fingers being provided at the end thereof with a rebent portion adapted to engage the end Yof the other finger.

6. In a caponizing instrument, a pair of flexible members secured together at oneV end, the opposite or fre-e ends of said members being spaced slightly apart, and provided with outwardly and then inwardly curved portions forming an eye therebetween, laterally extending substantially parallel fingers, L-shaped in cross-section, in which said curved portions respectively terminato, one of said fingers being provided `at the end thereof with a rebent portion adapted to engage the end of the other finger. y

7. In a capo-nizing instrument, a pair of flexible members secured together at one end, the opposite or free ends of said inembers being spaced slightly apart, and provided with outwardly and then inwardly curved portions forming an eye therebetween, laterally extending' substantially parallel fingers, L-shaped in cross-section, in which said curved portions respectively terminate, one of said fingers bein` provided at the end thereof with a rebent portion adapted to engage the end of the other finger, and cutting edges on said fingers adapted to be brought into engagement each with the other.

8. In a eaponizing instrument` a. pair of flexible members secured together at one end, the opposite or free ends of said members being spaced slightly apart, and provided with outwardly and then inwardly curved portions forming;- an eye therebetween, laterally extending;` substantially par allel fingers, L-shaped in cross-section, in which said curved portions respectively terminate, one of said iingers being provided at the end thereof with a rebent portion adapted to engage the end of the other finger, said fingers being pro-vided with shearinfr edges and opposed clamping surfaces, said clamping surfaces being adapted firmly to engage and hold the tissue and blood vessels severed from the birds body by the action of said shearing edges.

9. In a caponizing instrument, a pair of relatively movable arms having` angularly extending juxtaposed portions which are adapted to provide between them an open ended slot for the reception of the cord of tissues and blood vessels connecting the testicle with the body of a bird, said arms being,` spring' urged to positions whereby they provide the slot aforesaid but adapted to be manually operated iirmly to grasp the cord between the angularly extending portions aforesaid, and means `associated with said portions for limiting their movement from each other.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19 day of January, 1923.

VICTOR D. LESPINASSE. fitnesses DAGMAR PETERSON, EMILE J. BOURGEOIS. 

